Al Jazira successfully advanced to the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after a narrow 1–0 victory against Ajman at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium. The team, known as the “Pride of Abu Dhabi,” struggled initially to break through Ajman’s disciplined defensive line, which kept the hosts scoreless for the majority of the encounter. The deadlock was finally broken in the 78th minute when Bono de Oliveira initiated an organized attack, exchanging “one-two” passes with Vinicius Melo before firing the decisive goal into the net. Al Jazira qualified for the quarter-finals of the UAE President’s Cup after beating Ajman 1–0 at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium in their round-of-16 match. The action continues on Friday with two important fixtures slated for the day. We have every chance of making it to the next round.”.
Meanwhile, Al Wasl progressed to the next stage by defeating Ittihad Kalba 4-3 in a penalty shootout. Thanks to a crucial performance from goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, who saved two penalties, al Wasl emerged victorious 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw after regulation and extra time.
Al Wasl took the lead in the sixth minute of stoppage time during the first half through a brilliant individual effort by Nicolas Jimenez.
Ittihad Kalba equalized in the 52nd minute when Carlos Filho bypassed the defense to score after receiving a long ball from Saman Qaddous. Filho then skillfully rounded him and equalized.
The visitors briefly took the lead in the 101st minute of extra time when Marwan Al Watani capitalized on a defensive error, but Sofiane Bouftini forced the shootout with a header in the 111th minute. Goalkeeper Dinko Horkas secured the win for Al Wasl by saving two penalties.
Upcoming President’s Cup Fixtures
- Fujairah vs. Al Wahda: Friday, 4:55pm kick-off
- Al Nasr vs. Bani Yas: Friday, 8:00pm kick-off
Ahead of their respective matches, coaches and players have shared their expectations. Al Wahda, coming off a 3-2 victory against Khorfakkan, looks to maintain their momentum. Coach Preicles Chamusca expressed respect for Fujairah, noting the difficulty of playing on the opponent’s home ground. Player Abdullah Hamad Al Menhali emphasized the necessity of focus and team spirit to ensure progression. Their morale is high and they will look to carry the winning momentum into the tourney. We believe in our ability and team spirit.
Fujairah coach Bulazo Bulatovic acknowledged the challenge against Al Wahda, stating that his team aims to play with courage and leverage the support of their home fans. Sander Bin Beshir, a Fujairah player, echoed these sentiments, labeling the game as a significant opportunity to secure a positive result. Preventing a repeat of last season’s early exit from the tournament, his heroics propelled the “Emperor” to the quarterfinals. We want to play with courage and show our character on the pitch.
In the other scheduled encounter, Al Nasr coach Milos Milojevic described the competition as highly prestigious and emphasized that his team is prepared for a tough test. Bani Yas coach Hassan Al Abdouli stressed that the outcome would be determined by collective hard work and ambition rather than the names on the team sheet, confirming his squad’s strong desire to win. We need to be fully prepared and focus right from the beginning to the end.
Important Details
- “Playing at home gives us extra boost and we hope our fans will turn out in huge number to support us,” he added.
